The Sindh government has enacted the Universities Amendment Bill 2025, allowing bureaucrats to be appointed as vice-chancellors in the province’s universities, as reported by ARY News.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori initially refused to approve the bill, returning it to the provincial assembly for reconsideration. He objected to the expanded eligibility criteria that permitted serving bureaucrats to be appointed as vice-chancellors in public-sector universities.
According to Section 3 of Article 116 of the Constitution, if the bill is passed again by the assembly, with or without amendments, it becomes law within 10 days, even without the governor’s assent.
Meanwhile, the Higher Education Department has announced a vice chancellor vacancy at NED University, allowing bureaucrats of grade 21 and above to apply. Other eligible candidates include deans, registrars, principals, and academic experts. Despite the governor’s objections, the Sindh government proceeded with the bill.
On February 17, the Sindh Assembly passed the Universities Amendment Bill 2025 amid opposition protests. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Law Ziaul Hassan Lanjar presented the bill, which was met with resistance from MQM legislators, who chanted slogans against it. Following its re-approval in the assembly, the governor’s objections were dismissed.
The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) Sindh chapter has strongly condemned the law and pledged to challenge it at every forum.